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Latest News: Training and recruitment is ongoing - Wednesday, 02 March 2011 22:54

week 34

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Three Killed as Pirates Attack Passenger Boats

Three persons were feared killed and several others wounded on Tuesday, when pirates attacked two passenger boats along the disputed boundary area between Bayelsa and Rivers States. It was gathered that the drivers of the boats and other passengers, who sustained bullet injuries were now receiving medical treatments in an undisclosed hospital in Yenagoa. Bayelsa State Police Command, while confirming the killing of two persons in the attack, alleged that the pirates went away with the sum of N1.5 million from one of the passengers, while another one lost various valuables. In another operation, a gang of pirates attacked and carted away an outboard engine belonging to a passenger travelling along the Nembe water ways. The rising spate of piracy along the waterways, especially in the Nembe/Brass axis had forced the people in the area to call for increase security and military presence in the area.

Navy Arrests Tug Boat, 6 Suspects over Barge of Stolen Crude

Men of Central Command of the Nigerian Navy have arrested the grounded crude oil laden barge in the St. Nicholas River on the Brass Island and the crew of a tug boat accused of trying to pull the barge and its alleged stolen content in Bayelsa State. The Flag Officer, Commanding the Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman, said that the grounded barge identified as MV LILA, was discovered in Odioma area of the St. Nicholas River on August 10. The Navy authorities explained that based on the conviction that the escaped crew and the unidentified owner of the suspicious barge may attempt to rescue same and its alleged stolen crude oil, laid ambush and were rewarded with the seizure of a tug boat identified as MV St. Victoria and arrest of its crew.

Kidnapped Anambra Monarchs Regain Freedom

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, on Tuesday, said the two traditional rulers, kidnapped in the state two weeks ago, had regained their freedom. The governor stated this while addressing traditional rulers and community leaders at the Women Development Centre in Awka. Their abductors also took away the new Sport Utility Vans recently given to them by the state government. Obi, who did not give details of how the monarchs regained freedom, however, promised that the security agencies would arrest the kidnappers and their collaborators. Obi, who said the news of the kidnap of the traditional rulers troubled him, vowed that he would go to any length to secure the state against criminals.

Kidnapped Thais Safe -Diplomat

Four Thai workers abducted in southern Nigeria are safe and a Thai diplomat has been sent to the area to help secure their release. Foreign Minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, said on Tuesday that one of the four had contacted Onida, the Israeli firm employing them, on Monday and said they were all safe. Their abductors have not yet made a ransom demand to the firm, he added. Onida has promised to take full responsibility, including for any ransom, and to practice extreme caution to ensure their safety, the minister said. The Thais were abducted on Friday, along with two Nigerians, when their boat was attacked in the Buguma area while they were travelling to work at Buguma Mega Fish Farm in Rivers state. The two locals were later set free.

11 Suspected Oil Thieves Arrested in Bayelsa

The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta said it arrested 11 suspected oil thieves and destroyed 27 illegal refineries in multiple raids. The JTF Media Coordinator, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, in Yenagoa, on Tuesday said the raids were carried out between July 26 and August 9, on land and maritime locations in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states. He said five of the suspects were arrested while siphoning oil from pipelines in Otokomabie Creek in Rivers. The suspects were arrested with three fibre speedboats and three barges with which they carried out their illicit activities. In another development, youths of Ogala Community in the Okirika LGA of Rivers State, facilitated the arrest of a truck used for illegal bunkering activities. The truck, laden with illegally-sourced crude oil was reported to JTF land patrols, which promptly swung into action and impounded the vehicle. The spokesman said the team also destroyed seven open wooden boats used by the oil thieves.

Military Impersonator Arrested in Onitsha

The Nigerian Army in Onitsha on Monday arrested a man, Chinenye Nnagbogu, 26, for allegedly impersonating military police personnel. The Army 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Lt.-Col. John Majebi, said Nnagbogu had been presenting himself as a military police officer for the past three months. Majebi said the alleged impostor was finally caught while extorting money from some commercial motorcycle riders plying the Onitsha-Enugu Road. Since he was impersonating military policemen close to the cantonment gate, it will be difficult to suspect that he is not an army MP official. He said Nnagbogu would be handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.

GOC Decries Shortage of Operational Materials

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Army Division Enugu, Major-General Adebayo Olaniyi, has said the shortage of gunboats and fast-assault craft were partly responsible for increased oil theft in the Niger Delta Region. The GOC made the disclosure in Port Harcourt, after an operational tour of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sector-Two operation formations in Rivers State. Olaniyi said the tour had enabled him to better access troop’s readiness to combat oil theft and meet with stakeholders to discuss ways of improving JTF’s operations. He said shortage of gunboats and fast assault crafts had weighed down their renewed strategy to effectively patrol creeks round the clock. Olaniyi said the fight against oil theft was the responsibility of Nigerians, irrespective of their class, to ensure economic growth and prosperity of the country.

Police Foil Robbery Attempt in Enugu, Arrest One Suspect

The police in Enugu State, on Sunday, foiled a robbery attempt at Ugwuonyeama near Enugu on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, according to an official. A statement from the spokesman of the police in the state, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said the police also arrested one Monday Ogbodo in connection with the attempted robbery. The statement noted that the suspect was arrested after a severe gun battle as the hoodlums tried to rob the occupant of a Honda CRV. It stated that two of the hoodlums escaped with gun injuries sustained during the battle with the men of the command. The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, applauded the efforts of the operatives and called for more positive results toward fighting crime in the state.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Soldiers Attack Policemen in Warri

Pandemonium broke out, on Monday, in Koko, Warri North LGA of Delta State, as soldiers attacked and injured police officers from Delta State Police Command, who were on escort duty with the state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu. The soldiers beat a police corporal, who drove one of the police vehicles, to pulp for allegedly blaring siren in the premises of the Warri North LG Council, which is close to a military outpost. Junior police officers expressed anger with soldiers in the state, saying it has become a tradition for soldiers to attack police officers in the state without justifiable reason. State Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, confirmed the incident.

Abducted Edo Teachers Regain Freedom

Three female primary school teachers abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in Ekhehuan village, Edo State, on Tuesday regained their freedom. It was learnt that the three kidnapped teachers were released at about 3am on Tuesday at the Ekhehuan axis of the state after being in captivity for about two weeks. They were said to have called members of their family who went to pick them up. The teachers, Patience Osadolor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene were seized at gunpoint from the school on July 30, 2013. Their abductors had initially demanded for N60 million ransoms for their release, but later slashed the amount to N7.5 million.

Woman Burnt, House Torched in Kerosene Explosion

A mother of six, identified as Mrs Bread Bear, was, on Wednesday night, burnt in a kerosene explosion in her home at in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State. It was gathered that. Bear was burnt beyond recognition. A Niger Delta activist, Alhaji Yusuf Eregebene, who confirmed the incident, said the victim had been responsible for her husband who had been bedridden for the past 15 years. The source of the kerosene that exploded was not known. According to him, her children and other 18 persons were in the rooms in the building with four provision stores with goods worth millions of naira, which were all destroyed by fire. Alhaji Eregbene appealed to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State Emergency Management Agency and well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the family.

Community Raises Alarm over Dump of Toxic Waste

An alarm has been raised that over 40 dumps suspected to be toxic waste have been discovered in a bush at Olloh-Ossissa in Ndokwa-East LGA of Delta State. Some suspects, who reportedly work for an oil company operating in the area, have been apprehended by the community leaders. Irked by the ugly development, the President of Ndokwa-East Coastal Towns and Communities Consultative Forum, Mr. George Bucknor, has petitioned the Federal and state governments to prevail on the oil companies to evacuate the substance immediately to save the people from the negative impact of the highly toxic material. The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Lucky Uyabeme, confirmed the arrest.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Man in Court over Attempted Murder of Sister

A 43-year-old security man, Matthew Erazele, was, Monday, arraigned before Magistrate Margaret Dan-Oni of an Ikeja Magistrate Court, over attempted murder, of his sister, Esther Erazele. Matthew had accused Esther, who resides in the same house with him, of bewitching him whenever he planned to get married, which prompted him to hit her with a hammer on the head and also twisted her neck. The police prosecutor, Inspector Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged crime on August 3, 2013, while inside the room with his sister. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and was granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties, who are gainfully employed, resident in Lagos State.

Police Arrest 6 Mobile Policemen for Killing Driver, Burning Truck

Six mobile policemen attached to the Ondo State Police Command have been arrested for the shooting death of a tanker driver, simply identified as Friday, and setting the truck ablaze, last Wednesday. A Warri-based business man, Mr Muminogho Orogboh, the owner of the truck alleged that the six policemen stopped his truck at about 2am close to the Ore toll gate and after questioning the driver, allowed him to continue his journey only for them to shoot at him in company of his manager, Henshell Gbugbadia, who escaped into the bush. The policemen then reversed the trailer head toward Lagos direction and set it ablaze to blot out any evidence. The matter was reported at the Ore toll gate police station from where the patrol team on duty that night were summoned and disarmed. After orderly trial, they allegedly confessed to the crime, saying they had to burn the dead driver and the truck to erase any trace of the incident.

Pastor, Herbalist, 26 Others Nabbed for Pipeline Vandalism

An herbalist, a pastor and 26 others have been arrested in Ajuwa community in Ikenne LGA of Ogun State for pipeline vandalism.  It was gathered that pipeline vandalism had been on going in the area for a long time before security men raided the village and arrested 28 suspected oil thieves. The raid, executed by men of Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) in Ogun State, followed a tip-off by some of the villagers. The Ogun State Commander of NSCDC, Akinwande Aboluwaye, disclosed that 28 persons were arrested while seven assorted vehicles, 363 Jerry cans, a hose as well as some substances believed to be charms were part of the items recovered.

Residents Call for Police Action as Robbers Kill One in Overnight Attack

Residents of Meiran community, a Lagos suburb, have called on police authorities in the state to beef up security in the area as armed robbers have continued to terrorise them. The call follows a bloody robbery attack last weekend in which a middle-aged man was killed. A witness said that about 20 armed robbers invaded Usman Adebayo Street at about 2am, breaking into houses and dispossessing residents of their valuables. He added that the robbers operated for almost two hours unhindered as the police in the Meiran Station did not respond to the several distress calls made across to them as the bandits operated. He added that the police’s response was that the patrol vehicle was faulty and could not be used to counter the robbery operations. Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident, noted that two suspects have been arrested over the matter.

Mother Laments Police Investigation of Sexual Abuse of Daughter, 10

A mother has cried foul over the state of police investigations in the alleged rape of her 10-year-old daughter by a neighbor. She described the investigation as unsatisfactory, as police simply quizzed the suspect, Ifeanyi Iwuji and left him. Iwuji was quizzed by the police in Lagos for an alleged serial sexual harassment of the 10-year-old daughter of his neighbour. It was learnt that Iwuji had, last Thursday, sought the permission of the girl’s mother, Comfort, to send her on an errand, but ended up locking her in his room and assaulting her. It was gathered that Comfort felt uneasy when her daughter did not return on time, and approached Iwuji’s apartment. But Iwuji replied denied that that the girl was with him despite that her pair of slippers was by his door, so she raised the alarm, prompting Iwuji to release the girl.  On enquiry, the girl said that Iwuji had been sexually harassing and abusing her. The mother said the Investigating Police Officer informed her on Wednesday that the case would be discontinued as she was going on her annual leave.

5 Burnt in Early Morning Inferno

A woman, her three children and a neighbour were in the early hours of Wednesday, burnt to death at Shagari Estate, Musan, in Lagos State. Eye witnesses said one of the victims identified simply as Aunty Philo, alerted neighbours with the shout of fire. But before sympathizers could rush to the flat, the fire had reportedly spread to the entire building, in the process of which the roof fell on Philo, burning her beyond recognition. Efforts by youths in the area to safe the situation failed. Fire service men were said to have arrived the scene later and succeeded in putting out the fire, but the harm had been done. Contacted, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, confirmed the death of five persons.

Three Men Arrested over Rape of Girl, 14

A 24-year-old man, Ijezie Chidiebere, and two others - Okechukwu Ezea, 25 and Chikezie Ejesi, 25- have been arraigned before the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl. The police said suspects detained the victim in Chidiebere’s shop where they raped her. To cover their action, they allegedly poured a liquid substance suspected to be olive oil on her while pretending to be clerics. They were said to have told some people that had gathered that the girl was a witch, who needed urgent spiritual deliverance. Some of the people, who were not convinced, alerted   policemen who arrested the trio. The three men were arraigned on four counts of felony, rape and false representation. The men pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each.

Five-Year-Old Missing from Redemption Camp

The abduction of a five-year-old girl, Oluwaseun Ogungbemile, at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has thrown her parents into panic. It was learnt that the girl, in company with her parents, had gone to the camp at Kilometre 46 on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, to attend the one-week annual convention of the church that ended on Sunday. The girl was last seen playing with two of her cousins on Friday, August 9, 2013. The victim’s aunt, Omotade Odunowo, who said that the matter had been reported to the police, added that all efforts to trace her whereabouts proved abortive. She added that no one had called the family to demand a ransom. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that the matter was being investigated at the Redemption Camp Police Station.

Police Intercept Arms-Laden Car in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command on Thursday said it intercepted a vehicle conveying a large volume of explosive devices, deadly weapons and allied materials along the Podo- Ijebu-Ode road in Ibadan. The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, the three occupants of the vehicle escaped into the bush after a police patrol team along Podo-Ijebu Ode intercepted their vehicle. Items that were recovered include six cartons of explosive powder, two cartons of solar detonating cords, 16 bundles of wires and delay detonator wires. According to him, the explosives were stolen from a quarry at the toll gate on August 8. He, however, said the police would investigate further the motive behind the conveyance of the explosives.

Police Parade Assassin

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, on Thursday, paraded a suspected hired assassin, Ikechukwu Christopher. The CP said a photograph of a woman, that the suspect was detailed to kill and a locally-made single barrel pistol, loaded with one cartridge were recovered from him at the time of his arrest. The suspect reportedly confessed that he was contracted by one Adenola Adeniyi and Arowolo Lateef to kill one Mrs. Ololade Abidoye. Based on the confession, the said Adenola was arrested and he too corroborated the statement made by Ikechukwu. The suspect said that the first wife of the man contracted him to get hired assassins to kill the junior wife. Arowolo, who denied the allegation that he was instigated to kill, said that he was the guard to the man whose wife was to be killed.

Police, Robbers Exchange Fire in Abeokuta

Panic gripped residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Thursday as policemen chased a gang of suspected armed robbers operating in two vehicles round the streets of the metropolis and engaged them in a gun duel. It was learnt that the robbers fled after a few minutes on seeing that a bullet had pierced one of the tyres of their vehicle. Commercial motorcycle riders also joined the policemen and distracted the suspected robbers by throwing stones at the occupants of the vehicles. While some of the robbery suspects escaped in their second car, the policemen arrested one occupant of the unmarked white Ford bus. Police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, commended the policemen involved in chasing the suspected robbers. Adejobi also disclosed that a team of police officers, on Tuesday killed four armed robbers in their hideouts in Odan Abuja village. The robbery suspects were among those who attacked officials of the Vigilance Services of Ogun State recently.

Court Remands Two in Prison over Rape of 17-Year-Old

An Ibadan Chief Magistrate’s court in Oyo State, Thursday, remanded two men in prison custody for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 17-year-old girl. The accused, Ariyo Fawemi, 24 and Adetoro Ademola, 18, were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and rape. The prosecutor, Inspector Ade Adebusuyi, told the court that Fawemi and Ademola and two others now at large conspired to commit the crime. The pleas of the accused persons were not taken. Chief Magistrate Olusola Adetujoye ordered them to be remanded in prison custody pending the receipt of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Customs Officer Kills Villager at Seme Border

A trigger-happy customs officer has reportedly shot dead a villager at Seme, border area of Lagos and injured two others.  The deceased identified as Friday Poku was driving into Nigeria along with three of his friends when the incident occurred. The incident came barely three months after a similar one which claimed the life of a middle-aged man occurred.  The customs officers posted to Seme border took to their heels for fear of being attacked by the angry youths. Friends of the victim, who attempted to apprehend the fleeing customs men, sustained bullet wounds as the security men fired at them. It took the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Seme Division, to bring normalcy back to the area. The Custom’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Seme Command, Ernest Ollotah, said the Comptroller has set up a panel to investigate the matter.

GENERAL

Boko Haram Kills 56 in Mosque, Village Attacks

Suspected members of Boko Haram, last weekend gunned down 44 people praying in a mosque in Borno State. The killings occurred on Sunday morning at a mosque in Konduga town, near Maiduguri. A member of the vigilante group, Usman Musa, said four of his colleagues were killed when they responded to calls for help. Musa said the vigilantes encountered “fierce resistance from heavily armed terrorists,” along the way from Maiduguri to Konduga. Witnesses said the attackers wore military camouflage uniforms, which they might have acquired in one of their attacks on military bases. On their way back from Konduga, security forces came upon the scene of another attack at Ngom village, five kilometers outside Maiduguri, where 12 bodies of civilians were recovered. Twenty-six worshippers at the mosque were hospitalised with gunshot wounds. The leader of the Boko Haram sect, Ibrahim Shekau, boasted in a video that his members had killed many soldiers.

JTF Arrests Killers of Soldiers, Policemen in Yobe

Operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have arrested four suspected members of the Boko Haram insurgents in Gujba LGA of Yobe State. The suspects were arrested during a house-to-house search, conducted by the JTF in Gonori town, following intelligence report that the insurgents, who carried out a surprise attack on a JTF roadblock, were in a hideout in the town. It was learnt that the JTF efforts paid off, when four of those suspected to have taken part in the attack on the JTF checkpoint, were arrested at the hideout. The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed the arrest of the insurgents. It was also learnt that some of the suspected insurgents were also killed in a shootout with security forces.

Security Agents Raid Hideout of Boko Haram in Sokoto

The 1 Mechanised Brigade of the Nigerian Army,  Sokoto State, Monday said it had raided the hideout of some suspected Boko Haram terrorists at the Nakasari area of the Sokoto metropolis, leading to the arrest of one suspect, Mubarak (aka Dan-Hajiya). The spokesman of the Brigade, Captain Yahaya Musa, on Monday, disclosed that the operation was jointly conducted with the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) on Sunday night. He stated that the operation was in continuation of the series of raids being conducted by the security agencies to rid Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States of some of the fleeing insurgents from the volatile states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. Musa disclosed that troops of the brigade had in the last few days intensified raids on the hideouts of the suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the Sokoto metropolis. The items recovered included three AK 47 riffles, one riot gun, 153 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, explosives, three cartons of acid, knock-outs, chemicals and thermometers, among others.

JTF Kills Boko Haram Second-in-Command

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Wednesday, claimed it had killed Momodu Bama, the second-in-command to the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, during a recent confrontation in the state. The task force also claimed that Bama's father, Abatcha Flatari, a spiritual leader of the sect, was equally gunned down during the confrontation. The JTF claimed that Bama and his father were killed in a counter attack in Bama, when the sect attacked the riot police base in Bama, the headquarters of Bama LGA of the state on August 4. The spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said Momodu was killed along with his father during an attack on police base. The announcement of the killing came as the umbrella body for northern Muslims, the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), urged the federal government to bring to an end the activities of terrorists occasioned by mindless killing of innocent people.

Cameroun Takes Full Control of Bakassi

Five years after an agreement with Nigeria, the Republic of Cameroun Wednesday took full sovereignty over the disputed Bakassi Peninsula, signalling the end of the conflict over the land. Nigeria formally ceded Bakassi to Cameroun on August 14, 2008, bring to an end 15 years of border conflict. A United Nations-backed period of transition agreed by the two countries followed to allow Cameroun to develop an administrative presence in the area. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Nurudeen Mohammed, said the government had taken note of the landmark date. Based on the formal take-over of the peninsula by Cameroun, Nigerians living in the peninsula will now have to apply for a visa or apply for Camerounian citizenship. Mohammed said a committee had been set up to address a range of citizenship issues.

IGP Warns Investigators against Torture of Suspects

The Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, has warned police investigators to stop torturing suspects to obtain information and partly blamed the public for unresolved murder cases, saying they are withholding important information from the police. He said these on Wednesday, when he declared open a two-day conference for heads of Criminal Investigation Departments (CIDs) of police formations across the country. Abubakar also noted that there were several high profile murder cases in the nation which were yet to be resolved, adding that the responsibility lay on the police. According to him, it was crude and uncivilised for any police officer to torture suspects, as they still remained innocent until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction. He charged officers to be professional, adopt modern techniques of investigation, shun all acts of corruption and respect the rights of suspects.

Security Agents Arrest Two Women with Arms, Babies

The Joint Task Force (JTF) and members of the Borno Vigilance Youths Group (BVYG), Wednesday, announced the arrest of two women with arms strapped with their baby on their back in Ruwan Zafi and Zajeri wards of Maiduguri metropolis. The women were arrested during routine “stop and search” operations in the two affected wards, while commuting on the Dikwa road in tricycles. Chairman of BVYG, Abubakar Mallum, lamented that some women now are not only smuggling arms and ammunition to terrorists, but also poisoning water points and ground water reservoirs in reclaimed areas of Budum, Abaganaram, Kaleri, Gambouru and Zinnari wards of Maiduguri. He said the two female suspects with their babies, have been handed over to the sector commanders of JTF for further investigation.  Spokesman of JTF, Lt. Col Sagir Musa confirmed the incident.

10-Year-Old Boy Beheaded in Nasarawa

Gunmen, Thursday morning, invaded Dorowa camp in Keffi LGA of Nasarawa State and beheaded a 10-year-old boy, Abdullahi Ibrahim. It was learnt that after beheading the boy, the attackers went away with the head, leading to suspicion that it was for ritual purposes. The father of the victim, Ibrahim Mohammed, had reported the case to the police and investigations were said to have commenced. In another incident, the police, while on patrol of Assakio-Shendam-Lafia, arrested three suspected armed robbers as they attempted to dispossess unsuspecting people of their valuables. The state Deputy Police spokesman, Cornelious Ocholi, said locally-made pistol and single barrel guns, six handsets, seven SIM cards, two torches, as well as five cutlasses and one live cartridge were recovered when the police searched the residence of one of the suspects.

Man Beats Wife to Death

A middle-age man, simply identified as Salisu, is reported to have beaten his first wife, Ladiya, to death over disagreement between the latter and his second wife. The incident occurred at Azara village in Awe LA of Nasarawa State. According to one of the witnesses, the two wives were fighting in the presence of their husband, but at the point the first wife started beating her rival, their husband stood up and started beating her until she collapsed.  Salisu, a farmer, having realised that the woman has died, took to his heels. It was further learnt that one of the village heads, Sarkin Jimy, who accompanied those who rushed the deceased to the clinic, reported the matter to the Divisional Police Office and officers had since begun a search for Salisu.

Jigawa: Deputy Speaker, Ex-Commissioner Die

The people of Jigawa state were thrown into mourning following the death of the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Inuwa Udi and former Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Salisu Dandoka. Udi died along with his driver Malam Mas’ud Ringim in an accident along Kano-Ringim road on Thursday night during a heavy down pour. The former Commissioner in the State Ministry of Education and Information, Dandoka, died after a brief illness. Both were survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

Rights Group Wants Vigilante Justice System Removed

The Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has charged the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to immediately take practical measures to stop the rise in the use of jungle justice to settle scores in the country. It said the measure would help save Nigeria from anarchy and the overwhelming regime of impunity. The group’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said HURIWA blamed the slow justice delivery mechanism in the country for the unprecedented rise in vigilante justice which it said was totally unconstitutional. It postulated that urgent measures to remedy the anomaly must be found and enforced by the government if democracy was to continue to flourish in the country. Onwubiko said the association also supported the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, to directly indict the Islamic terrorists in northern part of Nigeria who are unleashing violence against humanity.

6 Killed in Fresh Tiv, Hausa/Kabawa Communal Clash

At least six persons were feared dead in a fresh outbreak of fighting between the Tiv and Hausa/Kabawa communities at Gbajimba in Guma LGA of Benue State. An eyewitness disclosed that the crisis left close to 30 persons with varying degrees of injuries while some houses and huts were also torched. According to the eyewitness, the crisis was sparked off, last weekend, by an alleged attempt by some Tiv youths to apprehend an Hausa/Kabawa youth who allegedly assisted some Fulani mercenaries in a recent attack on Nzorov village. An attempt by some Tiv youths to arrest him degenerated into a major conflict. The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, said the Police were aware of one death arising from the crisis, adding that 27 suspects had been arrested and security beefed up in the troubled community.

22 Suspected Robbers Arrested in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested 22 suspects who specialised in robbery and carjacking along the federal highways in the state. The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Umar Shehu, explained that the command has embarked on serious raiding of black spots and other criminal hideouts which resulted to massive arrest and recovery of arms, ammunition, vehicle, arrest of notorious armed robbery suspects and car snatchers. He pointed out that the arrest was made possible through a tip-off. The CP said one AK 49 military riffle with 49 rounds of ammunition were recovered during the execution of search warrant in the house of Terhemba Orvannya at Agon village, Obi-Awe road.

Soldiers Kill Two Boko Haram Commanders, Arrest Others

The Military Special Operation Unit in Mubi, Adamawa State, on Tuesday said it killed two Boko Haram commanders in a gun battle. The unit Commanding Officer, Operation, Lt. Col. Beyidi Martins, said the unit had made a successful progress in containing the activities of the sect and other miscreants in the state. He said that two notorious Boko Haram field commanders, Abubakar Ya’u and Muhammed Bama, declared wanted, had been killed by the special operation unit. The collective effort of security operatives and the citizens, he added, led to the killing of the commanders. He added that security operatives, during the operations, recovered four Russian-made AK47, 500 live ammunition, N3m and 5.4m CFA from the terrorists.  Meanwhile, three persons, including a 48-year-old man, suspected of involvement in the killing of the village head of Kole in Wukari Local Council of Taraba State, Abdul Sarki-Yamma, have been arrested.

Customs Warns Nigerian against Purchase through Social Media

Desperate Nigeria job-seekers, as well as those wishing to buy cheap vehicles through the various social media, have been warned to henceforth, desist from such cheap means of satisfying their desires. Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, gave the warning Tuesday in an address to a workshop on Customs and Social Media, Benefits and Risks. Dikko said the warning has become necessary in view of reported cases of Nigerians, who have been defrauded by the various social media, claiming to be in position to give jobs or have in their possession very cheap cars for sale on behalf of the Nigerian Customs. He said the fraudsters create fake Facebook accounts in the name of the Comptroller-General of Customs”, all of these are only ploys to defraud desperate job seekers and those who want to purchase very big cars at reduced prices. He said the Nigerian Customs has risen up to the challenge and has arrested several of such criminals.

INTERNATIONAL

India Laments Submarine Deaths

Indian Defence Minister, AK Antony, has described two huge explosions and a fire on an Indian submarine berthed at a Mumbai dockyard as a "shocking tragedy". Navy chiefs earlier warned the families of 18 sailors on board the submerged vessel to "prepare for the worst" after the two near-simultaneous explosions. Antony offered "heartfelt condolences" to relatives of the dead. It is not clear what caused the blasts. Sabotage has not been ruled out. "A board of inquiry will cover the entire spectrum of the incident, we cannot rule out sabotage at this stage but all the indicators at this point do not support that theory," navy chief Admiral DK Joshi said. Russian firm Zvyozdochka, which refitted the submarine, said the vessel had been fully operational when it was returned to India in January.

Egypt Declares State of Emergency
…World Condemns Egypt Crackdown

Egypt's presidency has declared a state of emergency after scores of people were killed when security forces stormed protest camps in Cairo. The camps had been occupied by supporters of former president Mohammed Morsi, who was deposed in early July. Morsi’s detention was, on Monday, extended by the nation’s judiciary for a further 15 days pending an investigation into his collaboration with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as his supporters marched through Cairo in defiance of the expiry of a government ultimatum to dismantle their huge protest camps. Security forces say 95 people have been killed, but the Muslim Brotherhood says hundreds have died. There has been strong international condemnation of the deadly crackdown against protest camps in the Egyptian capital Cairo. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have deplored the use of force. The government said 235 civilians had been killed, as well as 43 police officers.

UN Probes North Korea Arms Shipment

UN officials have begun inspecting the arms shipment found on a North Korean ship, Panama's security minister says.  The Chong Chon Gang was seized in July on the Panama Canal. Inspectors looking for drugs found Cuban arms and two Soviet-made MiG-21 fighter jets.  Cuba says the weapons were being sent to North Korea for refurbishment. The UN team will interview the 35 North Korean crew members, anti-drug prosecutor, Javier Caraballo, disclosed. Heading the inspection team is David Martin Uden, who used to be Britain's ambassador to South Korea.  Weapons systems including anti-aircraft and guidance systems, missiles, explosives and command-and-control vehicles were found buried under a cargo of sugar. The Chong Chon Gang left Russia's far-east on 12 April and travelled across the Pacific Ocean before entering the canal at the start of June, with Cuba as its stated destination.

Egypt Closes Gaza Border Crossing

Egyptian authorities have closed the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip “indefinitely” for security reasons after a day of deadly violence nationwide, a security official said Thursday. Hundreds of Palestinian travellers were left stranded on both sides of the crossing. The measure follows widespread unrest in Egypt on Wednesday after a bloody crackdown by security forces on loyalists of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Egyptians emerged Thursday from an all-night curfew imposed after the worst violence since their 2011 uprising, with 343 people killed as security forces broke up protests supporting ousted president Mohamed Morsi. The army-backed interim government imposed a month-long nationwide state of emergency, and curfews in Cairo and 13 other provinces. Shortly after the curfew ended on Thursday morning, light traffic began returning to Cairo’s streets, with roads blocked for weeks by the pro-Morsi protests now reopened.

Bomb Attack Hits Iraq Café, Kills 16

A suicide bomb at a cafe in central Iraq has killed at least 16 people and wounded another 35. The blast happened in Balad, a largely Shia Muslim town, north of Baghdad. In a separate attack a bomb exploded near a football field in Muqdadiyah, also north of Baghdad, killing four people and wounding 14, officials said. There have been a number of attacks on Iraqi cafes in recent weeks, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. More than 60 people alone were killed during celebrations for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, earlier this week. Most of the casualties were in Baghdad, which was hit by apparently coordinated car bombings near markets, cafes and restaurants.

Keita Wins Mali Polls

Mali's presidential election has been won by Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after his rival admitted defeat in the second round.  Ex-Finance Minister Soumaila Cisse said he had congratulated Keita and wished him good luck. Keita, 68, served as prime minister from 1994 to 2000.  In the first round Cisse polled just 19% against Keita's 40% and most of the other candidates then gave Keita their endorsements.  A 12,600-strong United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma) is currently deploying, as France begins to withdraw its 3,000 troops.  After the first round Cisse had complained of widespread fraud, with more than 400,000 ballots declared spoiled.

Israel Releases 26 Palestinian Prisoners

Israel's government has approved the release of 26 long-term Palestinian prisoners, as part of a deal which will see peace talks resume soon. A three-member ministerial committee published a list of which prisoners would be freed on Tuesday. The delay allows time for last-minute legal challenges by victims' families. The announcement came after Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to sabotage the peace talks by approving nearly 1,200 new settlement homes. Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, dismissed the criticism. About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Gunmen Attack in Yemeni Gas Plant

Suspected al-Qaeda militants have killed five soldiers in an attack on a gas terminal in southern Yemen. The militants opened fire on a checkpoint near the Balhaf terminal in Shabwa province, killing the soldiers before fleeing. Yemen is a stronghold of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) - an al-Qaeda offshoot considered by the US to be the most dangerous to the West. On Thursday, at least 14 suspected al-Qaeda militants - reportedly including seven from Saudi Arabia - were killed in Yemen in three drone strikes, Yemeni officials said.

Israel Intercepts Fired Missile from Egypt

Israel has shot down a rocket fired from Egypt toward the Red Sea town of Eilat, days after militants blamed Israel for airstrikes that killed four fighters in the Sinai Peninsula. The Israeli army says it intercepted the rocket early Tuesday, but did not give details on where the rocket originated. An Islamist militant group says it fired the rocket in retaliation for what it called a cross-border attack Friday by Israel. Israel has denied the accusation, while Egypt says its forces were responsible for firing a missile at militants. The northern Sinai region has seen an increase in militant activity since the 2011 popular uprising that forced former President Hosni Mubarak from office, and again following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi last month.

Rights Group Lament Use of Child-Soldier in CAR

A rights group, Save the Children, has warned that more than 100,000 children in the Central African Republic (CAR) are facing sexual abuse and recruitment into armed groups. According to the group, the children have been forced to flee their homes following the overthrow of the government by a rebel alliance in March this year. Many of them are suffering from malnutrition and malaria. Mark Kaye, a spokesman for the group, said that the health system had been almost completely destroyed. Michel Djotodia, who seized power from President Francois Bozize when fighters from the Seleka rebel coalition marched into the capital, Bangui, on 24 March 2013, has promised to relinquish power after elections scheduled for 2016. Save the Children said many families were running out of food, and many were still hiding in the bush, afraid to return home.

14 Killed as Deadly Explosion Hit Southern Beirut

At least 14 people have been killed by a large blast in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, with some 200 more reported wounded. The area contains strongholds of the Shia militant movement Hezbollah, reports say. The explosion happened in a densely populated part of the capital. Heavy damage was reported to nearby buildings and cars. The blast is being linked to the conflict in Syria, which has worsened sectarian tensions in Lebanon. Plumes of smoke rose over the area where the blast occurred, between the Bir Abed and Rweiss districts of the city. Lebanese officials said that the blast was the result of a car bomb.

Deadly Bomb Attacks Kill 16 in Baghdad

A wave of bombings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad has killed at least 16 people and wounded many more, officials say. Reports say five car bombs exploded across the city. The bombings follow a series of deadly attacks across Iraq during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. They also come a day after two explosions in the Iraqi city of Baquba, north-east of Baghdad, killed at least 14 people and wounded another 26. Thursday's attacks included a blast about 300m from Baghdad's Green Zone where many diplomatic buildings are located. At least four people were killed. The bombings reportedly hit both Shia-majority and Shia-Sunni mixed areas of the capital. Recent months have seen a surge in violence across Iraq, most of it involving Sunni Islamist militant groups targeting Shia Muslim districts.

Weapons Inspectors Head for Syria over Allegations of Chemical Weapons Use

The UN says weapons inspectors are to depart shortly for Syria to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons. Under an agreement reached with Damascus, the UN team is to visit three sites over two weeks, including a northern town at the centre of allegations of chemical weapons use. Some 26 people were killed in the attacks in Khan al-Assal in March. The UN mission had been delayed over differences with the Syrian government over the scope of the investigation. However, on 31 July the Syrian government agreed to allow UN inspectors to visit the sites. On Wednesday the UN said its team had completed their trip preparations. The mandate of the 10-man investigating team, led by Swedish arms expert Ake Sellstroem, is limited to reporting on whether chemical weapons were actually used and which ones, but it will not determine responsibility for any attacks.

Somalia Investigates Alleged Rape by AMISOM Troops

Authorities in Somalia, Thursday, said they were investigating the alleged rape of Somali woman by soldiers belonging to African Union (AU) peacekeeping force. The woman was allegedly attacked at Maslah Military Camp in Mogadishu, a week ago. A statement from the prime minister’s office said that the Somali government will not tolerate violation of human rights, in particular sexual violence towards the most vulnerable members of the society, and that perpetrators will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has ordered an investigation into the allegation. The African Union Mission to Somalia, AMISOM, said it had formed a joint team with the Somali National Army to look into the claims, as it strongly condemns any incidents of alleged sexual abuse or exploitation. Somalia’s government has pledged to do more to tackle the ongoing problem of sexual violence.